Selective reduction!!

[VaniDavila]

Well I went to my doctors today and had an ultrasound (I'm 6 weeks) and to my surprise (big surprise) the doctor found 4 maybe 5 heartbeats. I was so surprised. I knew I had 6 matured follicles when I did the iui but I didn't think 5 of those would actually implant. Now they are telling me that I have to get a selective reduction and reduce the pregnancy to a twin pregnancy. I am so sad and scared. Has anyone ever been through a selective reduction? What was it like and how painful was it?

[mikaleen]

Just because a few women on TV have had many children from one pregnancy does not make it safe or wise in any way.  I agree that it is a very personal decision, and it is something you really need to discuss the risks and benefits of with your Dr. and your partner.  If you are not happy with the information your Dr. is giving you, or have a harder time coming to a decision because you feel the Dr. is forcing it on you, find another Dr, and get more information!  Knowledge is power, and the more you know about risks to you, and risks to the babies, from a medical professional, the more clear the path you would like to choose will become.  Nobody but you, your partner, and you Dr.s will know the decision you come to, and regardless of feelings you have later in life with whatever you choose, you will always know that you made an informed decision that in your heart was the best decision for you and your family.  It is not easy and I wish you a happy healthy pregnancy however you go!

[kjbutcher]

did you have a plan for this if it came about?  can you tell before the reduction process which may or may not have problems?  what if you reduce the "normal" ones and leave any with defects?  this is a huge decision, and I sure hope you dont let any of the names on a screen on this board make you make probably the biggest decision you will ever have to make in your life.  it is up to you and your familyonly.  you can collect our opinions but please dont let any one of us talk you into anything.  here is my opinion...I am assuming you knew this was a possibility from the start and had formed your own opnion on it.  (you dont have to answer this on the board, but in your own head)...what was that opinion? Before you were int he situation what did you think you would do?  Stick with whatever that plan was!!!  Just my opinion.

[pinkbelle]

i agree with mumita... if you can raise all 5 then yeah and good for you.. but if you honestly feel you can't then i think you should do it..    look deep inside you heart and you will find your answer... only YOU can do and know whats right for YOU and you should feel no shame or guilt for you decision.. you are doing what is best for your family.. if i was in your shoes i honestly do not know what i would do.. this is a tough call but i know that i do not have the means to raise 5 children.. but the choice is yours

[Mumita]

I agree with worriedbabe there are many decisions in life that you look back and say "Could have, would have, should have" but the smartest choice would be to selectively reduce.  Of course that does not guarantee that even the ones that you do select will not have any developmental problems but 5 at the same time is too much for your body to handle and it reduces the likelyhood that all of them will develop well.
Then there's the actual concern of after they are born how hard it will be to raise 5 at the same time, money, diapers, milk, daycare, etc.
I would selectively reduce and it is NONE of our business and we should not make her feel guilty about it and specially not tell her that she will regret it later on because she could also regret having 5 babies at the same time later on.
Octomom is regretting her decision right now.

[worriedbabe]

ok, to be honest, i would selectively reduce; to avoid complications for the babies and myself. i would not come to that decision lightly by any means but i'm pretty sure that is what i would do. but, i would feel guilty about it for the rest of my life and wonder about what might have been...and my circumstances may be very different to yours, i already have three children and am single. i want to be able to afford all my children the level of attention they deserve.

[JoyRenee]

I can't tell you what to do but I will tell you what I would do- I would NOT selectively reduce my precious babies and end their little lives. I know this without a shadow of doubt, whether they had a birth defect or not.

Give yourself time to make a decision. You don't have to make the choice tomorrow! And no doctor can make you selectively reduce the number of babies you're carrying.